2014 in review part 3/4

A busy start to the month as Francesco Becchetti completes his takeover of the club and immediately appoints former Italy defender Mauro Milanese as sporting director. Midfielder Bradley Pritchard becomes the first signing of the Becchetti era and the signings of Gary Woods, Shane Lowry, Jobi McAnuff and Jay Simpson soon follow whilst Dean Cox puts pen to paper on a new long term deal. The O’s enjoy a positive pre-season campaign with wins against Dartford and Northampton as well as draws with Gateshead and QPR. In the midst of those is a preseason trip to Slaley Hall in Northumberland.

RESULTS

18/7/14 DARTFORD (A) PRE-SEASON -W 3-2

23/7/14 GATESHEAD (A) PRE-SEASON - D 0-0

26/7/14 NORTHAMPTON (A) PRE-SEASON - W 1-0

29/7/14 QPR (H) PRE-SEASON - D 2-2

In other news Germany defeat Argentina 1-0 in extra time to win the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

Majestic Moment: The O's forwards give a masterclass in finishing during a pre-season session

AUGUST

Darius Henderson becomes the club’s 7th summer signing and the O’s end their pre-season campaign with a 1-1 draw at home to Championship side Ipswich Town. The 2014-15 campaign then gets underway as Orient host Chesterfield. Adam Legzdins, Shane Lowry, Bradley Pritchard, Jobi McAnuff, Jay Simpson and Darius Henderson all make their debuts but Orient fall to a 2-1 defeat despite Henderson’s late consolation. Three days later Orient travel to Plymouth in the first round of the Capital One Cup and following a 3-3 draw, goalkeeper Gary Woods marks his debut in style, saving twice in the penalty shoot-out which Orient eventually won 6-5. The O’s follow up their cup victory with their first league win of the season at Oldham, with Darius Henderson, David Mooney and Kevin Lisbie all scoring in a 3-1 win. Two consecutive 0-0 draws follow, first at Bristol City then at home to Walsall before Orient claim an impressive win at Aston Villa in the Capital One Cup thanks to Romain Vincelot’s 87th minute header. The month finishes with a 1-1 draw at Fleetwood to extend their unbeaten run to six matches.

RESULTS

2/8/14 IPSWICH (H) PRE-SEASON -D 1-1

9/8/14 CHESTERFIELD (H) LEAGUE 1 - L 1-2

12/8/14 PLYMOUTH (A) CAPITAL ONE CUP - D 3-3 AET (W 6-5 ON PENS)

16/8/14 OLDHAM (A) LEAGUE 1 - W 3-1

19/8/14 BRISTOL CITY (A) LEAGUE 1 -D 0-0

23/8/14 WALSALL (H) LEAGUE 1 - D 0-0

27/8/14 ASTON VILLA (A) CAPITAL ONE CUP - W 1-0

30/8/14 FLEETWOOD (A) LEAGUE 1 - D 1-1

Meanwhile, American actor Robin Williams passes away at the age of 63 at his home in California.

Majestic Moment: Orient dump Villa out of the cup

SEPTEMBER

Chris Dagnall scores a brace on his first start of the season at Peterborough in the first round of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy first round and Bradley Pritchard scores his first for the club as Orient run out 3-2 winners. Russell Slade signs QPR winger Michael Petrasso on loan and the Canadian makes his debut in the O’s 2-0 defeat at home to Colchester. With uncertainty surrounding Russell Slade’s position as manager the O’s draw 1-1 at Notts County before Jobi McAnuff scores his first goal in an O’s shirt in a 2-1 win at Scunthorpe. Orient’s journey in the Capital One Cup then comes to an end as they lose 1-0 at home to Sheffield United in what turned out to be Russell Slade’s final game as O’s boss. Kevin Nugent is placed in temporary charge but suffers defeat in his first game, losing 3-2 at home to Rochdale.

RESULTS

2/9/14 PETERBOROUGH (A) JOHNSTONE’S PAINT TROPHY - W 3-2

13/9/14 COLCHESTER (H) LEAGUE 1 - L 0-2

16/9/14 NOTTS COUNTY (A) LEAGUE 1 - D 1-1

20/9/14 SCUNTHORPE (A) LEAGUE 1 - W 2-1

23/9/14 SHEFFIELD UNITED (H) CAPITAL ONE CUP - L 0-1

27/9/14 ROCHDALE (H) LEAGUE 1 - L 2-3

Elsewhere, singer Sam Smith’s debut album titled In The Lonely Hour remains number 1 for a fourth consecutive week.